Editor’s note: This is the sixth in the Beer Advent Calendar 2015 series. Likewise, I’m going to be posting a beer review each day. Some will be Christmas or Winter ales and other selections will be beers I’ve been wanting to review for some time.

For today’s Advent ale review, we’re heading back to Bend, Oregon to try out Pinedrops IPA. Let me preface this review with the fact that I’ve had many, many IPAs over the years. I’m pretty picky when it comes to IPA and it takes a notable taste to make me excited.

With that, let me introduce you to Pinedrops IPA. It’s pretty darn special because of how it’s created.

How does it taste?

In three words: pretty damn good.

Deschutes Pinedrops IPA pours a surprisingly clear golden color with a very light head on the top. To your nose, you smell the pine along with spruce with a hint of grass.

This beer is as much a treat to your nose as it is to your tongue. It’s brimming with atmosphere and flavor. It tastes a little dry at first. There’s no hoppy punch-you-in-the-face action going on with this IPA. Its strength is its subtle flavor and experience. There’s a slight grapefruit taste followed by a unique pine aftertaste.

With the mix of tree like freshness including pine, spruce and herbal hops that remain in your palette, the formula is complete with the light sweet and graham cracker tastes of the brew. What remains is a dry and crisp hoppy lingering taste on your tongue.